A NEW shop in the shadow of Redcar’s mothballed steelworks aims to become a focal point for the community it serves.

The Church Shop in Farndale Square, Dormanstown, was opened by the Bishop of Whitby, the Right Rev Dr Martin Warner, and the Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland, Councillor Ray Goddard.

And while performing his opening duties, Dr Warner told of his hope it would become a valuable meeting place for a community harder hit than many by the recession.

He said: “This is a tight-knit community of great-hearted people, still struggling with the uncertain future of Corus and ongoing decline in employment.

“I hope that The Church Shop not only provides the people of Dormanstown with a place to buy clothes and children’s toys at low prices, but that it becomes a place at the heart of the community, where people come to meet and support each other.”

The Rev Alison Phillipson, the vicar of Coatham and Dormanstown, has been part of the team involved in setting up the new shop.

The shop will be managed by Carole Prest, the church’s PCC secretary, and a team of helpers.